2nd judge recuses self in Haverstraw election case

Jul. 25, 2013

Barry Berman

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GARNERVILLE — Barry D. Berman, a former Haverstraw town highway superintendent hopeful, was due in Haverstraw Town Court on Thursday morning, but the hearing was adjourned as a town justice recused himself.

Berman, who had obtained enough signatures on nominating petitions to be placed on the Democratic primary ballot as a candidate for the position, is accused of approaching one of his opponents, saying he would drop his candidacy for $3,000, Rockland County District Attorney Thomas Zugibe said.

The opponent, John Piperato III, then began working with the District Attorney’s Office, which supplied the money to pay Berman, Zugibe said, adding that the day after receiving the money, Berman, 62, filed the paperwork to have his name removed from the ballot.

Berman is facing charges of first-degree coercion and fourth-degree grand larceny, both felonies, and giving consideration for franchise and receiving consideration for franchise, both felony violations of election law, Zugibe said.

Robert Laureano, Berman’s attorney, said he would not comment on the case.

Berman was arraigned before Haverstraw Town Justice John K. Grant. He was due in court Thursday before Haverstraw Town Justice Peter Branti, but the hearing was adjourned as Branti recused himself. The case is to be transferred to another Justice Court because Grant also has recused himself.

The case will eventually be presented to a Rockland County grand jury and heard in Rockland County Court, Zugibe said.

“I think these cases are important because it sends a message that, regardless of your political affiliation or the job you currently hold or aspire to, we’re going to aggressively prosecute if you violate the law, if you commit public corruption,” Zugibe said. “Every one of these cases comes out ... it keeps eroding the public confidence in our elected officials. It makes it harder and harder for public officials to do their job.”